Finding a true franchise quarterback in the NFL is hard enough.

Finding an all-time quarterback—the kind of generational talent who rewrites record books and defines a franchise for a decade? That’s almost impossible. Just ask the Cleveland Browns or the New York Jets, who’ve spent years cycling through draft picks, stopgaps, comeback attempts, and “maybe this time” solutions that never quite pan out.

But the New England Patriots?

According to Colin Cowherd, they may have just struck gold again—and this time, the payout could be even bigger.

The Patriots’ Unexpected Turnaround

Following New England’s shocking 33–15 domination of the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, the league buzz wasn’t just about the win. It wasn’t about the revamped offense, the coaching adjustments, or the defensive surge.

It was about Drake Maye.

The Patriots’ second-year quarterback didn’t just look good. He didn’t even just look great.

He looked inevitable.

Calm. Poised. Accurate. Unshaken. Each throw seemed to carry an assurance unusual for a player his age. His awareness, footwork, and decision-making reflected a player who has somehow compressed five seasons of experience into fewer than two.

And to Colin Cowherd, one of the NFL’s most influential voices, the explanation is simple:

Drake Maye isn’t just a franchise quarterback—he’s an all-timer in the making.

Colin Cowherd’s Bold Claim

On Tuesday, Cowherd delivered what might end up being one of the most replayed segments of the year.

“This kid is different,” he said. “You get a franchise quarterback every year. You get an all-timer about every four or five years. Drake Maye looks like one of those guys.”

He didn’t stop there.

“Size, arm, IQ,” Cowherd continued. “He just doesn’t miss. Stoic. Not a lot of bad throws. Not getting hit. He looks like one of these guys who comes around every four years—your Burrow, your Allen, your Mahomes. One of those guys.”

The comparison is no small compliment. In a league increasingly dominated by elite quarterback play, being mentioned alongside Mahomes-level talent in your second season is the NFL equivalent of being knighted on live television.

Cowherd also highlighted one particular stat that has the football world buzzing.

Breaking NFL History on First Down

Drake Maye currently holds a 131.6 passer rating on first down—the highest in NFL history for a single season.

Higher than Aaron Rodgers.

Higher than Drew Brees.

Higher than Peyton Manning.

In other words: when most young quarterbacks are trying not to collapse the pocket or force a bad early throw, Maye is surgically slicing defenses apart.

First down isn’t supposed to be the stage for brilliance—it’s supposed to be the stage for safety.

But Maye doesn’t play safe.

He plays smart.

And that’s what’s terrifying defensive coordinators across the league.

Two Generational Talents in 25 Years?

It almost seems unfair.

Some franchises spend fifty years begging the universe for a single elite quarterback. Some never find one at all. But the Patriots—after two decades of Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback to ever play the game—may have stumbled directly into another generational star.

Cowherd said it plainly:

“You get a franchise guy once in a while. An all-time talent? Almost never. New England may have found one right after Tom Brady. That just doesn’t happen.”

And he’s right.

It doesn’t.

The Colts had Manning and Luck, but only briefly.

The Packers had Favre and Rodgers, but that’s two superstars across three decades.

The 49ers had Montana and Young, arguably the greatest transition ever.

If Maye becomes what Cowherd predicts, the Patriots could join—or even surpass—that company.

A Young Quarterback Playing Like a Veteran

Watch Maye play, and you can see what Cowherd is talking about.

He doesn’t rush.

He doesn’t flinch.

He doesn’t panic when the pocket bends or when defenders disguise coverage. His eyes stay downfield, his shoulders remain square, and his throws come out with a smoothness that looks almost mechanical.

When a young quarterback reaches that level of polish, the conversation changes. It stops being about potential and starts being about trajectory.

Where is he going?

How high is the ceiling?

What does the next decade look like?

And with Maye, the answer—at least so far—looks like:

as high as it gets.

The Patriots’ Future Looks Unfamiliar—in the Best Way

New England has navigated a long, turbulent rebuild since Tom Brady left. Coaching changes, roster turnover, offensive collapse, and multiple failed quarterback experiments created a sense of uncertainty the franchise hadn’t felt in decades.

But now?

Everything feels different.

The team is stabilizing. The offense has identity again. The locker room has a spark. And, most importantly, the Patriots finally have something they’ve been missing since 2020:

Hope. Real, legitimate, explosive hope.

A future worth believing in.

A quarterback worth building around.

A player capable not only of winning games—but redefining them.

The Verdict

In just his second season, Drake Maye has forced his way into elite quarterback territory. The stats, the tape, and the performances all match what Cowherd is saying: Maye isn’t just good—he might be historically good.

The Patriots might not only be back…

They might be building something scarier than anyone expected.

New England is in very, very good hands.